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Controversial New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is being torn to shreds for fraternizing with inmates at Rikers Island while they watched the World Cup semifinals on Wednesday afternoon.
The Associated Press filmed Mamdani walking into a recreation room where inmates in tan jumpsuits were watching the game between Argentina and England. He sat down at a table and smiled while speaking to the inmates as the audio of the game played in the background.
His voice was then dubbed over the video.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks with inmates on Rikers Island while they watch a World Cup semifinal soccer match on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
"I hope that this shares with people who are incarcerated here on Rikers that they too are a part of New York City," Mamdani said. "The World Cup has been a magical moment for the entire city."
He also insisted in the impromptu on-camera remarks that the convicts were part of the New York City community.
"These are New Yorkers, and they will be New Yorkers when they get out of Rikers. They are New Yorkers today, and I wanted to make sure we could celebrate this moment together," the socialist mayor said.
Mamdani was scorched online for the stunt, with users launching into the mayor who has been viewed as soft-on-crime, and has recently cut NYPD's budget by about $22 million.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani with inmates on Rikers Island while they watch a World Cup semifinal soccer match on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
"As usual, communists prioritizing criminals and leeches over the honest working middle class and the movers and shakers," one user said.
"Can this guy be on the right side of any subject," said another. "How dumb are New Yorkers, to see this guy and go 'yes. That’s the leader we need.'"
A third wrote: "Mamdani is literally laughing in everyone’s face for electing him by openly palling around with criminals every chance he can get."
"Unbelievable. He's now partying with prisoners. Great job voting for him, New Yorkers!" said another.
Views of the New York City jails on Rikers Island, as seen from a departing flight from Laguardia Airport on Dec. 10, 2022, in Queens, New York. (Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)
"Only a violent commie bastard would glorify the worst of criminals," yet another lamented. "They are deliberately NOT PART of society because they lost the privilege. What the f--- message is raining charity on them trying to send?"
In the past, Mamdani notoriously questioned what purpose prisons serve, suggesting they should be abolished.
Meanwhile rapes are up 6.6% in New York City compared to this time last year. Mamdani was similarly excoriated online when he blamed the "definition of what counts as rape" for that statistic rising.
English (US) ·